The cooling tower is a distinct landmark in the vicinity of Carlow Town. It is a most impressive structure. There may be similar structures in Mallow & Tuam but this was the first sugar factory in Ireland and led the way in the technology of sugar beet refining. The cooling tower has great potential as a viewing platform to see the town of Carlow and a centre for the recall of the industrial and historical past of Carlow. N Sc, I, H

UPDATE - CARLAW

We are happy to confirm that Carlow County Council has voted by 9 votes to 6 to list the Lime Kiln on the Record of protected structures.

Please help save the Lime Kiln at Carlow:

Unless it is added to the Record of Protected Structures now, it is at very real risk of demolition.

Even a short statement of support could help to save it. Please do what you can & send an email to countydevplan@carlowcoco.ie

Mark your email clearly with'Proposed addition to the RPS in Carlow County Development Plan 2015-2021' Thanks!

Set in a vast and visible area in the County, the Lime Kiln at Carlow, should be retained for posterity - it is unique and if lost, will take with it the memories of Carlow's industrial past. It cannot be replaced.

The tower should feature in the positive development of the area, not be lost forever.

Here is an extract from 'The National'

Carlow Co Council passed an emergency motion last week to halt the demolition of the tower, the last remnant of Carlow Sugar Factory, by site owners Greencore. The motion began the process of reinstating the tower on the protected structure list by varying the current county development plan (CDP).

The lime kiln had been taken off the protected structure list in the most recent CDP. The deletion followed a lengthy process, including a council-commissioned report by a conservation architect which said that the tower did not merit a listing. However, at the county council’s meeting last week several councillors seemed unaware that the tower had been delisted.

The emergency motion only came about when local artist Rennie Buenting called into the council’s offices on the day of the meeting to check whether the tower had a protected status. Ms Buenting had been researching the sugar factory and had heard that the lime kiln was to be demolished. She ended up talking to council officials and councillors themselves, which led to a call by cllr William Paton for the tower to be protected.

The Labour councillor said: “That (the demolition) would concern me greatly. It’s a distinct landmark in Carlow town, a most impressive structure. Carlow was the first sugar factory in Ireland and it would be great shame to let a real landmark for the town disappear.”

Cllr Paton said that if the motion was not accepted, it (the tower) would be gone in two or three weeks’ time.”